The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-12-08
THE FIERY WOLF.

tnlS part OF Russia Is one great forest
and in winter it fairly swarms witt
wolves from one end to the other
Shall we go out tonight and knock
over a few of themp'
There is nothing | should like bet
ter"
Very good; we'll do it."
Mr.. Reginald Marston, who was sc
eager to make the acquaintance OF
Russian wolves, was young English
traveller. who had taken it into his
head to spend winter in the North ot
Russia.
Having done so. he could not, OF
course, think of going home again
without having had "A wolf-hunt in the
snow, which he somehow supposed to
be the national amusement of the Rus
slams.
His companion, Major Kamarofi
(who was engaged in making II sur
vey of one of the most t-of-the-way
districts in those wild northern PROV
inces which lie between St. Petersburg
and the White Seal, had met him on
the road, two days before, doing his
best to get two tired horses through a
snowdrift nearly six feet high.
IL,
they made friends at once. and this
woifiunt which they were now plan
ming was to be their first sporting ex-
cursion together.
The log hut in which the two had
taken up their quarters was as mnch
too hot thanks 10 its enormous stove
as the onter air was too cold, and it
would certainly have been more COM
Portable had there been fewer reaches
in it, as well as other insects of II still
more unpleasant kind.
But Marston (who was we'll used to
Foughing it by this time )slcpt as sound
~ on his heap of straw as boy after a
holiday, till he was suddenly aroused
by the gleam of a light close to his
eyes, and Il hoarse voice calling out:
Farm, sani" (Master, the sledgeD
Up jumped Reginald at once for he
had lain down with all his clothes on
and running To the door of the hut.
found drawn up in front of it huge,
broad, heavy Russian sledge. with
such enormous high sides that ii looked
very much like some giants bath-tub.
Major Ramaraff was already out
side, giving orders to three or four
sturdy Russian peasants in sheepskin
frOcks. who were slowing into the
sledge armfuls of hay. rifles, cloaEs
and wraps of every kind. and last. and
but certainly not least, young pig,
whici, was sqnealing loud enough to be
neard half mile OF.
"What on earth do you want that
pig for?" asked the EngliShman, staring
with all his might at this new passen-
ger
"Ah. that's our bait for the wolves"
answered the major. laughing They
are mighty fond of pork, and the mo-
ment they hear that fellow sgueal,
they'll come along like a peasant on
the scent of bowl of cabbage-scuD."
The driver shook his reins. with
shrill yell of "4i-dah. gotoodehthi"
(Go it, petsD and away then went
1t was only little past one o'clock
i'm the morning. but the splendid north
ern moonlight, and its reflection upon
the glittering snow, made the Whole
scene almost as bright rs day.
On either side of the narrow road
the deep pine woods lay, black and
ghosuly; but amid their gloomy shad-
ows, as the squealing of the pig broke
the dreary silence, there suddenly ap-
peared a number of pale yellow spots
of light, very much like half-quenched
Goals.
..Be ready" said Major Kamaroff,
cooking his rifle; ''here comes the
wolves"
The cries of the pig began to be an
swered by a sound which no one who
has once heard it can ever forget-not
the long, dreary howl wherewith some
supperless wolf may be heard bemoan-
ing himself in the Russian forests al
most any winter night. but the sharp,
snarling yell which shows that the
prey is fairly in sight.
Then there came rush among the
frozen thickets, and all around the
sledge was a whirl of gaunt, gray
bodies, and bushy tails, and sharp,
white teeth, and lolling tongues and
gtaring. yellow eyes.
Both rides cracked at once, and two
of the wolves rolled, kicking and gasp
ing, on the snow. Two more shots
followed a moment later, and then came
the reports of the spare rifles and re-
volvers.
Every shot told. and the tramplell
snow was strewn with writhing forms,
which were torn TO pieces by their
famished comrades as fast as they
dropped.
But all this slaughter did not seem
to thin the ranks of the wolves one
whit. On the contrary, two more
seemed to join the pursuit for every
one that was killed; and Reginald
Marston. as he noted their savage de-
termination. began Ia feel uneasy for
the first time.
Hitherto he had always supposed
that these cowardly creatures would
turn tail and run almost at the first
shot; and no doubt they would have
done so in any ordinary case. But this
winter had been all unusually hard
one even for Russia. and the beasts
were so furious with cold and hunger
that even their terror of firearms had
lost its hold upon them for the time.
Louder and louder grew the yells
closer and closer pressed the savage
swarm. till even the iron-nerved ma
jor began to look grave.
The driver knew the danger quite
as well as his masters, and urged his
horses to their utmost speed, though
in truth they needed little urging, witt
a pack of hungry wolves at their heels
Away ilew the sledge, rocking from
side to side. as if Just about to toppie
over. But the wolves kept pace witt
it. leaping up and trying to spring in
while the hunters. having no time Il
reload. slashed and pounded them witt
knives and dubbed rides,
At last. one huge, gaunt beast made
a tremendous bound, and leaped righ
into the sledge. but he was instantly
felled by crushing blow from Mars
ton, who was about to dispatch hin
With q knife. when Kamaroff cried:
s.Don't kill him; we'll make him use
full another way!"
Spatching up lighted lantern
which bad been placed all ready in
corner of the slsdge. in case the moon
H9hA sho,ald fail than. he huckled